PREFACE. THE publication of the present volume having been delayed nearly a year beyond the time promised for its appearance, the Writer feels that satisfactory reason is due to the Subscribers, for the procrastination. In attempting this, he is compelled to repeat an assurance already given, that an earnest desire to render the work as complete as possible has ever been his object, and in pursuance of this, neither time nor difficulties have been considered, while anything was left un- attained which he considered necessary to that end. Impressed with this feeling, he has never ceased endeavouring to overcome obstructions which jealousy or some other bad spirit had, on one occasion, thrown in his way. He is now most happy to say that, through the obliging assistance of liberal friends to the arts (to whom he acknowledges himself most deeply indebted), his endeavours have been crowned with success. His present Majesty has been most graciously pleased to grant the Writer permission to have free access to view and describe all the pictures in the royal collections — a privilege from which he had hitherto been debarred. VOL. IV.
